Computer programs, by their nature, combine both copyrightable and
patentable elements.

Mathematical relationships are discoveries, not inventions. Similarly
algorithms: the right one existed, but you just didn't know it.
Expressions of algorithms are covered by copyright. There is not
necessarily any construction or fabrication, either real or imagined.
So computer programs, by their nature, contain no patentable elements
under English law.

It is a disgrace that many of our MEPs (Lab, Con and LibDem) voted to
change this and that the (commercial!) UK Patent Office are getting
directly involved in policy development.